Method and apparatus for time adaptation of online services to user behavior

ABSTRACT

An approach is provided for time adaption of online services. Timing information relating to usage by a user of one or more online services is retrieved. A pattern of consistent usage is determined from the timing information. Scheduling information is generated for transmission of a message based on the determined pattern.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/560,465, filed Sep. 16, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporatedherein.

BACKGROUND

Service providers (e.g., wireless, cellular, etc.) and devicemanufacturers are continually challenged to deliver value andconvenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling onlinenetwork services. Online services have gained widespread use amongconsumers across a variety of industries. As the sophistication ofonline services increase, so too have telecommunications services, whichoffer a range of messaging services and applications, beyond that oftraditional voice services. Such messaging services, for example,include short message service (SMS) and multimedia message service(MMS). Given the rapid development of both online services andtelecommunication services, the integration of these services has thusbeen slow and superficial.

SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

According to one embodiment, a method comprises retrieving timinginformation relating to usage by a user of one or more online services.The method also comprises determining a pattern of consistent usage fromthe timing information. The method further comprises generatingscheduling information for transmission of a message based on thedetermined pattern.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprising at least oneprocessor, and at least one memory including computer program code, theat least one memory and the computer program code configured to, withthe at least one processor, cause the apparatus to retrieve timinginformation relating to usage by a user of one or more online services.The apparatus is also caused to determine a pattern of consistent usagefrom the timing information. The apparatus is further caused to generatescheduling information for transmission of a message based on thedetermined pattern.

According to another embodiment, a computer-readable storage mediumcarrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, whenexecuted by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to retrievetiming information relating to usage by a user of one or more onlineservices. The apparatus is also caused to determine a pattern ofconsistent usage from the timing information. The apparatus is furthercaused to generate scheduling information for transmission of a messagebased on the determined pattern.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises means forretrieving timing information relating to usage by a user of one or moreonline services. The apparatus also comprises means for determining apattern of consistent usage from the timing information. The apparatusfurther comprises means for generating scheduling information fortransmission of a message based on the determined pattern.

Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention arereadily apparent from the following detailed description, simply byillustrating a number of particular embodiments and implementations,including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. Theinvention is also capable of other and different embodiments, and itsseveral details can be modified in various obvious respects, all withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature,and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, andnot by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system capable of determining a schedule basedon online services usage for delivery of messages to users, according toone embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the components of an online service trackingplatform utilized in the system of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment;

FIGS. 3A-3C are flowcharts of processes for collecting timinginformation and determining appropriate times to send messages to usersof an online service, according to various embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a graph displaying an exemplary representation of timinginformation for use in determining an appropriate schedule for messagedelivery, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of hardware configured for a service solution thatcan be used to implement an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a chip set that can be used to implement anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a mobile terminal (e.g., handset) that can beused to implement an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

A method, apparatus, and software for determining appropriate times fordelivery of messages to a user based on the user's pattern of usage ofan online service are disclosed. In the following description, for thepurposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of theinvention. It is apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that theembodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specificdetails or with an equivalent arrangement. In other instances,well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form inorder to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system 100 capable of determining a schedulebased on online services usage for delivery of messages users, accordingto one embodiment. As mentioned, online services have emerged as a keyvehicle for commerce. According to certain embodiments, the term “onlineservices” refers to a website or other internet-based service (e.g., astreaming music service) that permits users to obtain a product orservice. For example, the user can register for and subscribe to anonline service such as a shopping website, a social networking service,or another service.

The online service may find it beneficial to send a message to the userto convey an advertisement, a survey, or other information. When sendingmessages by an online service to a user, sending messages at theappropriate time of day would be more effective; that is, when the useris receptive to such information.

A system 100 of FIG. 1 utilizes an online service tracking platform 102to determine appropriate times to send messages to users of one or moreonline services 103. The appropriateness of the schedule or time,according to one embodiment, can be based on whether the schedule isconsistent with the user's use of the online services. A schedule isconsistent with the user's use of the online service, in someembodiments, if collected information about the user's usage is freefrom variation to a certain degree for a certain time window. During thescheduled appropriate time, the user is more likely to be amenable toreceiving messages relating to the particular online services. Bycontrast, if the online service sends a message (e.g., text message) toa user late at night, the user may not available, and thus, the messageis ineffective. Moreover, the message may even cause the user to beawoken by a text message alert, if the user is asleep. Consequently, theuser may be inclined to have a negative impression of the onlineservice, as the user is unaccustomed to using online services late atnight and was asleep. This can lead to the user becoming reluctant touse the online service again.

Under another scenario, the text message may instead be transmitted toanother user during the same period (i.e., late night), but this user isawake and utilizing the online service or another online service, suchuser would be more agreeable to viewing the message. Additionally,because online services can be global, factors such as the time zone,the lifestyle of an individual user, etc, may need to be taken intoaccount by the online service when determining an appropriate schedulefor delivery of the messages to users. Moreover, an individual user ismore likely to react to messages at certain times a day depending on theindividual user's time zone and lifestyle. For example, the user may bemore likely to respond to a survey questionnaire while the user isutilizing a service associated with the questionnaire than whenperforming another activity.

As shown, the online services 103 in conjunction with the online servicetracking platform 102 can communicate with user equipment 101 over acommunication network 105, which supports a messaging network 106 fordelivery of messages to the UEs 101 a-101 n. The messaging network 106can provide, according to certain embodiments, such services as email,instant messaging (IM), a short message service (SMS) message (i.e.,text message), multimedia message service (MMS), or other real-timecommunication.

A user may use a web browser 107 a or a dedicated client application 107n (e.g., an instant messaging client) to utilize online service 103.Examples of “online services” may include a shopping service, a musicservice, a messaging service (e.g., an instant messaging service, ane-mail service, a text messaging service, etc.), a social networkingservice, a product warranty service, an online gaming service, and/orother services available online. It is contemplated that the approachdescribed herein may be used with other online services 103. The system100 allows for a user information database 109 to store timinginformation relating to usage of online services 103 a-103 n; suchtiming information can include time-stamps pertaining to login duration,transaction time, etc. The timing information can be collected by anonline service tracking platform 102, which can receive timinginformation from various sources, including the online services 103. Thecollected timing information can be analyzed for consistency and thenprocessed to determine an appropriate and/or effective time to send amessage to individual users.

Under one scenario, a user can register for a particular type of onlineservice 103 a (e.g., a music service). The online service 103 a maytransmit the timing information to the online service tracking platform102, which can save timing information associated with the userregistration in a user information database 109. Next, as the userutilizes the online service 103 a, the online service 103 a can sendadditional timing information about the activities of the user to theonline service tracking platform 102. For example, the online service103 a can send timing information associated with a login of the user tothe online service 103 to the online service tracking platform 102 tostore at the user information database 109. Such timing information caninclude a login and logout time of the user's access, a login time and aduration of the user's access, a login time, a date of the user login, atype (e.g., weekend, weekday, holiday etc.) of day of the user's login,or another appropriate measure of the user's use of the online service103. Additionally, the user may register and access another onlineservice 103 n. The online service tracking platform 102 can receivetiming information from the other online service 103 n and may updatethe user information database 109. The online service tracking platform102 can reconcile the online service registrations based on a user name,a common e-mail address, a common phone number, or other commonidentifiers. Identifiers associated with timing information can indicatewhich service is associated with the time value. Accordingly, the onlineservice tracking platform 102 can have access to the time the userspends online using the online service 103 a as well as other onlineservices 103.

Further, the online service tracking platform 102 can determine anappropriate time to send a message (e.g., an instant message) to theuser's UE 101 based on the collected timing information. A pattern ofusage can be used to determine the appropriate time to send the message.The pattern can be determined based on a set of pattern rules, where thetime to send the message is appropriate if the rule is fulfilled. Onesuch rule can include a pattern is created if on two consecutive days,the user uses the online service 103 within a three hour time window.Another rule could be that a pattern is created if on two consecutive“like days,” the user uses the online service 103 within a four hourtime window. A “like day” may be a criterion for the grouping of daysthat may contain separate patterns from other days (e.g., weekdays andweekends). Further, like day patterns can be determined using additionalgrouping pattern rules. A like day pattern rule can include a rule thatif two or more patterns based on another pattern rule are found torepeat, the patterns can be separated into like groups. For example, theuser can use the service at one time period for four days of the weekand at another time period for the other three days of the week formultiple weeks. The online service tracking platform 102 can segregatethese time periods based on a like day grouping pattern rule.

The online service tracking platform 102 can additionally determine ifthe timing information is consistent according to a consistency rulebefore utilizing the timing information for the determination. Incertain embodiments, consistency rules can be based on the amount ofvariation in timing information over a certain period of time. Forexample, the user can have a usage pattern associated with the onlineservice 103 that indicates that the user uses the online service 103between 16:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and 18:00 UTC onweekdays, however, in the past two weekdays; the pattern has shifted tothe user accessing the online service 103 between 2:00 UTC and 4:00 UTC.Because the pattern has shifted from one use time period pattern toanother use time period pattern, the information may be inconsistent.Under one scenario, the consistency rule requires that a time periodpattern must be consistent for at least three consecutive uses and thetime period pattern must encompass less than a 4 hour time period. Thecurrent pattern meets the 4 hour time period portion of the rule,however fails the three consecutive uses portion of the rule. Thus, theonline service tracking platform 102 may choose to postpone schedulingof the sending of the instant message until more data is collected.Alternatively, the consistency rule can require that a time periodpattern must be consistent for at least two consecutive uses and thetime period pattern must encompass less than a 3 hour time period. Underthis scenario, the user's usage patterns meet the consistency rule andthe message can be sent at the appropriate time.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 comprises a user equipment (UE) 101having connectivity to a online service 103 via a communication network105. By way of example, the communication network 105 of system 100includes one or more networks such as a data network (not shown), awireless network (not shown), a telephony network (not shown), amessaging network 106 or any combination thereof. It is contemplatedthat the data network may be any local area network (LAN), metropolitanarea network (MAN), wide area network (WAN), a public data network(e.g., the Internet), or any other suitable packet-switched network,such as a commercially owned, proprietary packet-switched network, e.g.,a proprietary cable or fiber-optic network. In addition, the wirelessnetwork may be, for example, a cellular network and may employ varioustechnologies including enhanced data rates for global evolution (EDGE),general packet radio service (GPRS), global system for mobilecommunications (GSM), Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS),universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), etc., as well as anyother suitable wireless medium, e.g., microwave access (WiMAX), LongTerm Evolution (LTE) networks, code division multiple access (CDMA),wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), wireless fidelity(WiFi), satellite, mobile ad-hoc network (MANET), and the like.

As noted, the messaging network 106 can provide for a SMS messaging orMMS messaging capabilities. The messaging network 106 may be a part of atelephony network (e.g., a cellular network). As part of a cellularnetwork, UE 101 can communicate with a cellular tower (not shown) tosend and receive data including SMS messaging and MMS messaging.Cellular towers communicate with a UE 101 via control channels so thatthe UE 101 is able to ascertain which tower to connect to. A controlchannel can also be utilized to deliver messages. A message can be sentto a UE 101 via a cellular tower and a message service center (MSC) (notshown). The MSC can be used as a medium between the cellular network andinternet protocol networks designed to carry messaging traffic. Themessage can have information about the message and the destination suchas the length of the message, a time stamp, the destination phonenumber, etc., which can be used to route the message to the destination.In one example, an online service 103 or an online service trackingplatform 102 can send a message to the UE 101 via the messaging networkby sending the message to the MSC via an internet protocol network.Then, the MSC can deliver the message to the UE 101 via the cellulartower control channel.

The UE 101 is any type of mobile terminal, fixed terminal, or portableterminal including a mobile handset, station, unit, device, multimediatablet, Internet node, communicator, desktop computer, laptop computer,Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), or any combination thereof. It isalso contemplated that the UE 101 can support any type of interface tothe user (such as “wearable” circuitry, etc.).

By way of example, the UE 101, the online service 103, and the onlineservice tracking platform 102 communicate with each other and othercomponents of the communication network 105 using well known, new orstill developing protocols. In this context, a protocol includes a setof rules defining how the network nodes within the communication network105 interact with each other based on information sent over thecommunication links. The protocols are effective at different layers ofoperation within each node, from generating and receiving physicalsignals of various types, to selecting a link for transferring thosesignals, to the format of information indicated by those signals, toidentifying which software application executing on a computer systemsends or receives the information. The conceptually different layers ofprotocols for exchanging information over a network are described in theOpen Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model.

Communications between the network nodes are typically effected byexchanging discrete packets of data. Each packet typically comprises (1)header information associated with a particular protocol, and (2)payload information that follows the header information and containsinformation that may be processed independently of that particularprotocol. In some protocols, the packet includes (3) trailer informationfollowing the payload and indicating the end of the payload information.The header includes information such as the source of the packet, itsdestination, the length of the payload, and other properties used by theprotocol. Often, the data in the payload for the particular protocolincludes a header and payload for a different protocol associated with adifferent, higher layer of the OSI Reference Model. The header for aparticular protocol typically indicates a type for the next protocolcontained in its payload. The higher layer protocol is said to beencapsulated in the lower layer protocol. The headers included in apacket traversing multiple heterogeneous networks, such as the Internet,typically include a physical (layer 1) header, a data-link (layer 2)header, an internetwork (layer 3) header and a transport (layer 4)header, and various application headers (layer 5, layer 6 and layer 7)as defined by the OSI Reference Model.

Under one scenario, the system 100 may include a user informationdatabase 109. The user information database 109 can be accessed by theonline service tracking platform 102. The user information database 109can store information (e.g., registration information, timinginformation, etc.) associated with one or more users of one or moreonline services 103. More particularly, the user information database109 can store timing information associated with the one or more usersof the one or more services. Under some embodiments, the term “timinginformation” refers to any information associated with user usage of anonline service 103 that is indicative of some tendency of the user. Thetiming information can include data points of time values such as atimestamp of when the registration was initiated and/or completed, atimestamp when the user logs in and/or logs out or is logged out due toinactivity, a timestamp and duration of how long the user was active,etc. Further, the timing information in the user information database109 can include additional information associated with categoricalinformation associated with data points of time values such as a day ofthe week of the observed user activity, whether user activity wasobserved on a weekday, whether the user activity was observed on aweekend, whether the user activity was observed on a recognized holiday,or the like. It is contemplated that the approach described herein maybe used with other timing information not mentioned in the precedingexamples. Additionally, it is contemplated that the user informationdatabase 109 can be a component of the online service tracking platform102. Additionally, older or stale timing information associated with auser can be purged from the database once a certain quantity of newertiming information is gathered regarding the user.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the components of an online service trackingplatform 102 utilized in the system of FIG. 1, according to oneembodiment. By way of example, the online service tracking platform 102includes one or more components for determining a schedule (e.g.,appropriate time periods) for sending messages to a user. It iscontemplated that the functions of these components may be combined inone or more components or performed by other components of equivalentfunctionality. Additionally, it is contemplated that an online service103 can implement the functions of the online service tracking platform102. In this embodiment, the online service tracking platform 102includes a service interface module 201, a user information databaseinterface module 203, a filter module 205, a runtime module 207, andmemory 209.

In one embodiment, the runtime module 207 executes the online service(e.g., a music store service or a social networking service). In thisembodiment, the online service tracking platform 102 is also a platformfor the online service 103. The runtime module 207 can allow a user, viaa UE 101, to register for the online service by communicating via aservice interface module 201. The service interface module 201 cancommunicate with the UE 101 and online services 103 via thecommunication network 105. Additionally, the service interface module201 can be used to authenticate a user with the online service 103. Theruntime module 207 can create login information associated with the userand store the login information in a user information database 109 via auser information database interface module 203. The user informationdatabase interface module 203 can communicate with the user informationdatabase 109 via the communication network 105 or via anothercommunication means (e.g., a direct fibre channel connection or anotherdata communication network). The runtime module 207 can also storetiming information in the user information database 109 regarding theregistration of the user. Further, once registration is complete, theruntime module 207 can allow the user access to the online service 103once the user authenticates with the online service 103 via the serviceinterface module 201. While the user is using the online service 103,the runtime module 207 can store timing information about the user'saccess in the user information database 109 via the user informationdatabase interface module 203.

In another embodiment, the runtime module 207 receives timinginformation collected by one or more online service 103 and stores thetiming information in the user information database 109. The onlineservice 103 may collect the timing information from users accessing theonline service 103 and initiate transfer of the timing information tothe online service tracking platform 102. The runtime module 207receives the collected timing information via the service interfacemodule 201 and stores the timing information in the user informationdatabase 109.

Additionally, the runtime module 207 may receive a request from theonline service 103 to schedule a message to be sent to a user via theservice interface module 201. Under one scenario, the online service 103may determine that there is a need to send a message to a user. Thus,the online service 103 can request that the runtime module 207 determinean appropriate time to send the message to the user. A filter module 205can be utilized to help determine the appropriate time to send themessage to the user. The filter module 205 can have access to usertiming information from the user information database 109 via the userinformation database interface module 203. According to one embodiment,the timing information can include data points of time values.Additionally, data regarding the individual user can be stored in memory209 of the online service tracking platform 102 while the filter module205 is executing.

The filter module 205 can include a median filter and/or another filterthat removes irregular data points based on some criteria. In oneexample, the filter module 205 can filter the data points by determininga normal distribution and filtering via any data points outside of anormal distribution threshold. An example of a normal distributionthreshold is a standard deviation or a multiple of a standard deviation.Additional or alternate statistical filtering mechanisms can be used aswell. Additionally, the filter module 205 can segregate groups of datapoints based on additional filtering rules, such as segregating groupsbased on weekdays and weekends or based on usage patterns of anindividual user. Once the data is filtered, the filtered timinginformation can be stored in the memory 209 for use by the runtimemodule 207 to determine an appropriate time to schedule sending of themessage and/or send the message. In one embodiment, the runtime module207 can initiate sending of the schedule to the online service 103,which can initiate sending of the message to the user. In anotherexemplary embodiment, the runtime module 207 initiates transmission ofthe message to the user.

FIG. 3A is a flowchart of a process 300 for determining an appropriatetime to send messages to users of an online service 103, according toone embodiment. In one embodiment, the runtime module 207 performs theprocess 300 and is implemented in, for instance, a chip set including aprocessor and a memory as shown FIG. 6 and/or using a computer system ofFIG. 5. The online service 103 can determine that it would be beneficialto send a message (e.g., an instant message or a text message) to theuser of the online service 103 and request that the runtime module 207determine an appropriate time to send the message. The message couldinclude an advertisement, a promotion, a notification, a survey, amessage conveying information about a product, a message conveying anadvisory or warning, or the like. The runtime module 207 can receive therequest from the online service 103 that is associated with the user tosend a message to the user at an appropriate time. The runtime module207 then begins a process of determining the appropriate time to sendthe message to the user.

In step 301, timing information relating to usage by the user of one ormore online services 103 is retrieved from a user information database109. The user information database 109 can include information from manyusers using online services 103. The runtime module 207 can select theuser information to retrieve. Under one scenario, the runtime module 207can select to retrieve user information of the user's use of any onlineservices 103 collected in the user information database 109. This canprovide the runtime module 207 a broad amount of information regardingthe usage patterns of the user. For example, this information may allowan online service 103 to send messages to the user based on a pattern ofwhen the user is using a service of a competitor. In another scenario,the runtime module 207 can select to retrieve user information of theuser's use of the online service 103 that desires to send the message.This information is more directed towards the online service 103 andthus provides a more targeted time to send the message individualized tothe online service 103.

Next, at step 303, the runtime module 207 determines a pattern ofconsistent usage of online services 103 by the user from the timinginformation. As described earlier, the timing information can includedata points of time values. The runtime module 207 can filter the datapoints according to one or more criteria. As previously discussed, suchcriteria can include filtering the data points by determining a normaldistribution and filtering out any data points outside of a normaldistribution threshold. Then, the runtime module 207 determines one ormore patterns associated with the data points that can help determine anappropriate time to send the message to the user. The pattern ofconsistent usage reflects use by the user based on certain rules. Therules can be based on the recentness of the data points, the consistencyof the data points, or other criteria that reflect when a user is usingthe online service 103. For example, the determined pattern can be basedon the number of times the user uses an online service 103 during acertain time window on multiple consecutive days.

Then, at step 305, the runtime module 207 generates schedulinginformation for transmission of the message based on the determinedpattern from step 303. The determined pattern can include one or moresub-patterns, group patterns, other patterns, etc. The schedulinginformation can also be determined based on other factors such as theconsistency of the pattern. Generating of scheduling information can bebased on criteria. For example, generating scheduling information may bebased on a set of criteria that requires that the determined pattern beconsistent for at least a certain period of time. Thus, if a pattern isnot consistent for the requisite time, the runtime module 207 candetermine to postpone sending of the message until more consistent datais collected. Another criterion could be that if there is more than oneavailable pattern, to select whichever pattern yields the soonesttransmission time or select whichever pattern has the highestconsistency level.

At step 307, the runtime module 207 schedules a time to initiatetransmission of the message corresponding to the scheduling information.The scheduling information can be yield times or time periods for whichthe runtime module 207 should attempt to initiate transmission of themessage. Then, the runtime module 207 initiates transmission of themessage based on the scheduled time to a UE 101 of the user.Alternatively, the runtime module 207 can initiate transmission of thescheduling information to the online service.

FIG. 3B is a flowchart of a process 320 for collecting timinginformation of a user of a service, according to one embodiment. In oneembodiment, the runtime module 207 performs the process 320 and isimplemented in, for instance, a chip set including a processor and amemory as shown FIG. 6 and/or using a computer system of FIG. 5. In oneembodiment, the runtime module 207 can belong to an online servicetracking platform 102 that is configured to provide one or more onlineservices. At step 321, the runtime module 207 collects timinginformation relating to usage of the one or more online services 103from one or more users. To initiate collecting of the information, theruntime module 207 can, at step 323, register the user for the one ormore online services 103. Thus, when the user logs into the onlineservices 103, timing information can be collected by the runtime module207 and stored in the user information database 109.

Then, at step 325, the runtime module 207 collects usage information ofthe users of the online services 103, according to one embodiment. Thetiming information can be collected by the runtime module 207 from anonline service tracking platform 102 configured to provide the one ormore online services 103. In this embodiment, the runtime module 207collects timing information via the online service 103 while a user isusing the online service 103 and stores the timing information in theuser information database 109. Alternatively, the online service 103 canbe on another platform collecting timing information at the platform.The other platform can collect the timing information from user usageand can send the information to the online service tracking platform 102to store the timing information in the user information database 109.The timing information can then be retrieved by the by the runtimemodule 207. Additionally, the timing information can refer to anyinformation associated with user usage of an online service 103. Thetiming information can be indicative of some tendency of the user. Underone scenario, the timing information is associated with a login of theuser with one of the one or more online services 103. The timinginformation can include data points of time values such as a timestampof when the registration was initiated and/or completed, a timestampwhen the user logs in and/or logs out or is logged out due toinactivity, or a timestamp and duration of how long the user was active.Moreover, the timing information in the user information database 109can include additional information associated with categoricalinformation associated with data points of time values. The categoricalinformation can include a day of the week of the observed user activity,whether user activity was observed on a weekday, whether the useractivity was observed on a weekend, whether the user activity wasobserved on a recognized holiday, or other categorical information.

In one embodiment, at step 327, the runtime module 207 stores the timinginformation of the users in the user information database 109. Timinginformation of multiple users can be stored in the user informationdatabase 109. The timing information from more than one online service103 can be utilized to determine when the user is utilizing the user'sUE 101. Additionally, timing information from a particular onlineservice 103 can provide more specific information as to when the user isusing the particular online service 103.

FIG. 3C is a flowchart of a process 340 for determining and schedulingappropriate times to send messages to users, according to oneembodiment. In one embodiment, the runtime module 207 performs theprocess 340 and is implemented in, for instance, a chip set including aprocessor and a memory as shown FIG. 6 and/or using a computer system ofFIG. 5. The runtime module 207 can receive a request from an onlineservice for scheduling information or to schedule and initiatetransmission of a message to a user. The runtime module 207 can thenretrieve user timing information from a user information database 109 todetermine an appropriate time to send the message to the user. At step341, a set of data points representing recent usage by the user isselected by the runtime module 207. The set of data points can beselected based on criteria (e.g., a time frame or a common attributeamong the data points). For example, the set of data points may includedata points associated with user logins over the past 5 preceding days,the past four preceding weekday days, over the last 3 preceding weekenddays, or can be a group of data points representing the user's usageover a period of time (e.g., since registering with the online service103).

In one exemplary embodiment, at step 343, the runtime module 207 filtersthe selected set of data points according to criteria. For example, thedata points can be filtered by determining a normal distribution of thedata points and filtering any data points outside of a normaldistribution threshold. An example of the normal distribution thresholdis a standard deviation. If a data point is outside of the standarddeviation or a multiple of a standard deviation, the data point can befiltered out of the set of data points used to determine the pattern ofconsistent usage.

In one embodiment, at step 345, the data points (filtered or unfiltered)can be categorized by the runtime module 207 into a first group of datapoints and a second group of data points. More than two groups of datapoints can be used. Additionally, in some embodiments, the data pointsneed not be segregated into groups. The categorization can be based on atime of day, a day of week, holiday days, weekday days, weekend days,other criteria that can represent lifestyle choices of the user, or acombination thereof. For example, the first group of data points canrepresent timing information about the user when the user is using theonline service 103 during weekday days. Additionally, the second groupof data points can represent timing information about the user using theonline service 103 during weekend days. Differences in a user's usagepatterns of the online service 103 can be seen between a grouping ofweekday data points and a grouping of weekend data points. For example,on weekday days, the user might use the online service 103 between thehours of 6 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time) and 8 PM EST. The user may usethe online service 103 between the hours of 1 PM EST and 4 PM EST duringthe weekend days. It would thus be appropriate to send a message to theuser between 6 PM EST and 8 PM EST on weekday days, but between 1 PM ESTand 4 PM EST on weekend days. Under some scenarios, holidays can beassociated with the weekend grouping. Weekday and weekend groupings areonly one example, other user lifestyle observations can be decipheredusing long-term timing information. For example, a category can becreated based on long-term timing information by recognizing usagepatterns (e.g., a three day use between 5 PM EST and 8 PM EST followedby a four day use between 2 PM EST and 4 PM EST) over a historical time.

In another embodiment, at step 347, a group pattern for each of thefirst group and the second group is determined by the runtime module207. A group pattern can be determined for each group based on a set ofpattern rules. The pattern rules can be based on data points withincertain time windows over a period of time. An example of a pattern ruleis that a pattern is generated if a set of data points in the group iswithin a time window for a certain number of consecutive days. A timewindow could be used to find ranges of times where the user has beenusing the online service 103. For example, the rule could be set so thattwo hour windows are looked at. Under one scenario, the runtime module207 determines that for the first group there are two patterns, apattern over two days for a two hour time window starting at 7 AM ESTand ending at 9 AM EST and another pattern between 7 PM EST and 9 PMEST. Data points included in the first group could include a 7 AM ESTusage, an 8 AM EST usage, an 8:30 AM EST usage, a 7 PM EST usage, and a9 PM EST usage. The same pattern rule or other pattern rules can be usedto determine a group pattern for each of the groups.

In a further embodiment, at step 349, the runtime module 207 determinesa group consistency for each of the first group and the second group.The group consistency can be determined based on a consistency rule. Aconsistency rule can be based on the lack of variance in data point timevalues over a period of time. An exemplary consistency rule may requirethat a pattern is consistent (e.g., within a certain tolerance range ortime window) over at least three consecutive usage days of the group.Another exemplary consistency rule may require that a pattern beconsistent over at least three out of the four user usages within thegroup. In another example, the consistency rule can output a how manydays of recent use the user used the service within a time window andoutput how many days were outside of the time window. Additionally, theruntime module 207 can determine a consistency level of a data pattern.The consistency level can be determined by statistics based on acorrelation of historical data in combination with the recent usagepattern. Further, the consistency level can be greater (e.g., moreaccurate) with more consistent data. The consistency rules can beapplied to timing information to determine if the data points used toform group patterns are consistent.

Then, at step 351, the runtime module 207 generates schedulinginformation for transmission of the message based on a determinedpattern and/or the consistency of the pattern, according to yet anotherembodiment. The determined pattern can include one or more grouppatterns or other patterns. The scheduling information can also bedetermined based on the group consistency of any of the group patterns.Appropriate times to initiate transmission of the message can bedetermined based on the group patterns based on a set of rules. Forexample, the message can be scheduled during a time period associatedwith one of the group patterns. In one example, if the group patternindicates that the user uses the service between 7 PM and 9 PM onweekdays, the scheduling information can indicate that the messageshould be sent sometime between 7 PM and 9 PM on the next weekday.Additionally, the scheduling information can be based on the consistencyinformation. For example, if the group patterns are inconsistent, theruntime module 207 can determine that the scheduling information shouldnot reflect the inconsistent group patterns. Further, if more than onegroup pattern is consistent and available, the runtime module 207 canselect which group pattern to utilize to schedule the transmission ofthe message based on criteria. One such criterion would be to selectwhichever pattern yields the soonest transmission. Another suchcriterion would be to select whichever pattern has the highestconsistency level. The higher the consistency level, the greater thechance to send the message at an appropriate time.

According to the above approach, the online service 103 is able to sendinstant messages to users in a coordinated, adaptive manner. The onlineservice 103 improves service quality to the user by adapting the sendingof instant messages to usage of the online service 103 by the user. Inthis manner, users can travel or move to different time zones andreceive instant messages at a time adapted to the lifestyle of the user.

FIG. 4 is a graph displaying an exemplary representation of timinginformation for use in determining an appropriate schedule for messagedelivery, according to one embodiment. In graph 400, data point 401represents the time of registration by the user to the online service103. Sets of data points 403, 405, 407 represent the login times of theuser on the corresponding days. The graph 400 has been simplified toshow a single data point for each day, however, it is contemplated thatmultiple sets of data points can be saved in a single day. In thisexample, the y-axis represents the time of day of a user login based onCoordinated Universal Time. Other time zones or timekeeping mechanismcan also be used. In this exemplary embodiment, the timing informationincludes user login information from 00:00 UTC to 24:00 UTC daily. Thex-axis represents the date. According to this example, the eighteendays, starting from the day of the user registering for an onlineservice 103 are displayed.

Under one scenario, the online service 103 may desire to send a message(e.g., an instant message) to the registered user on day 8. The onlineservice 103 can send a request to the online service tracking platform102 to determine scheduling information to send the message at anappropriate time. The registration data point 401 and data points 403represent the timing information available to make a decision regardingwhat time to send the message on day 8. Because the data points 401 and403 encompass a window between 16:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)and 20:00 UTC, the most appropriate time to send the message is withinthat timing window. In one example, a pattern rule can include averagingdata points to determine the appropriate time to send a message if thedata points are within a 4 hour timing window. Thus, 18:00 UTC is theappropriate time to send the instant message and the message can bescheduled to be sent at that time.

Under another scenario, the online service 103 may determine a need tosend a message to the registered user on day 12. The registration datapoint 401, data points 403 and data points 405 are timing informationavailable to determine what time to send the message. More recent datapoints 405 can be used to determine that a more appropriate time to sendthe message to the user on day 12 is 04:00 UTC rather than theappropriate time of 18:00 UTC on day 8. The 04:00 UTC time can bedetermined based on a pattern of data points 405 because these datapoints 405 are more recent than the data points 403 used to determinethe appropriate time to send the message on day 8 and these data points405 meet the pattern rule. The change in the timing information canrepresent a change in the time zone of the user or a change in thelifestyle of the user.

Additionally, the online service 103 can determine whether to send theday 12 message based on the consistency of the data points. In oneexample, the online service 103 can have a consistency rule that threeor more days worth of consistent data points are needed to make adecision. In this example, the more recent data points 405 meet thisrule and therefore, the message can be scheduled to be sent at 04:00 UTCon day 12. In another example, 4 days of consistent data points areneeded to conform with the consistency rule. The three data points 405thus fulfill the rule and the message sending can be postponed untilmore consistent data is present. Later, at day 18, more information isavailable. Data points 407 meet the pattern rule and the consistencyrule on day 18 to send the message on day 18 at 16:30 UTC. This couldrepresent the user returning to the original time zone or lifestyle ofthe user. Additionally, the time pattern rule and/or the consistencyrule can take into account the historical use of the user to utilizeformer patterns in making a decision. For example, data points 403 anddata points 407 can be used to determine the appropriate time of 17:15UTC instead of 16:30 UTC based on the averaging rule using data points403 and 407. Data points 405 can be filtered out of the data points 403,407 because data points 405 may be determined to be inconsistent withthe most recent information about the user.

The above processes for determining a schedule for appropriate times tocommunicate with users based on online service usage behavior canadvantageously make delivery of the messages pertaining to products andservices of online services more effective. Also, network resources canbe efficiently employed, but minimizing or avoiding delivery of messageswhen it is likely to be ignored by the end users.

The processes described herein for determining appropriate times for anonline service 103 to send instant messages may be advantageouslyimplemented via software, hardware (e.g., general processor, DigitalSignal Processing (DSP) chip, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit(ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc.), firmware or acombination thereof. Such exemplary hardware for performing thedescribed functions is detailed below.

According to certain embodiments, the described processes of FIGS. 3A-3Care performed on the network-side (or server side)—e.g., via onlineservice tracking platform 102 of FIG. 1. Additionally or alternatively,these processes can be executed on the terminal side (or client side).

FIG. 5 is a diagram of hardware configured for a service solution thatcan be used to implement an embodiment of the invention. Additionally,FIG. 5 illustrates a computer system 500 upon which an embodiment of theinvention may be implemented. Although computer system 500 is depictedwith respect to a particular device or equipment, it is contemplatedthat other devices or equipment (e.g., network elements, servers, etc.)within FIG. 5 can deploy the illustrated hardware and components ofsystem 500. Computer system 500 is programmed (e.g., via computerprogram code or instructions) to determine appropriate times for theonline service 103 to send instant messages as described herein andincludes a communication mechanism such as a bus 510 for passinginformation between other internal and external components of thecomputer system 500. Information (also called data) is represented as aphysical expression of a measurable phenomenon, typically electricvoltages, but including, in other embodiments, such phenomena asmagnetic, electromagnetic, pressure, chemical, biological, molecular,atomic, sub-atomic and quantum interactions. For example, north andsouth magnetic fields, or a zero and non-zero electric voltage,represent two states (0, 1) of a binary digit (bit). Other phenomena canrepresent digits of a higher base. A superposition of multiplesimultaneous quantum states before measurement represents a quantum bit(qubit). A sequence of one or more digits constitutes digital data thatis used to represent a number or code for a character. In someembodiments, information called analog data is represented by a nearcontinuum of measurable values within a particular range. Computersystem 500, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing oneor more steps of determining appropriate times for an online service 103to send instant messages.

A bus 510 includes one or more parallel conductors of information sothat information is transferred quickly among devices coupled to the bus510. One or more processors 502 for processing information are coupledwith the bus 510.

A processor 502 performs a set of operations on information as specifiedby computer program code related to determining appropriate times forthe online service 103 or an online service tracking platform 102 tosend instant messages. The computer program code is a set ofinstructions or statements providing instructions for the operation ofthe processor and/or the computer system 500 to perform specifiedfunctions. The code, for example, may be written in a computerprogramming language that is compiled into a native instruction set ofthe processor. The code may also be written directly using the nativeinstruction set (e.g., machine language). The set of operations includebringing information in from the bus 510 and placing information on thebus 510. The set of operations also typically include comparing two ormore units of information, shifting positions of units of information,and combining two or more units of information, such as by addition ormultiplication or logical operations like OR, exclusive OR (XOR), andAND. Each operation of the set of operations that can be performed bythe processor is represented to the processor by information calledinstructions, such as an operation code of one or more digits. Asequence of operations to be executed by the processor 502, such as asequence of operation codes, constitute processor instructions, alsocalled computer system instructions or, simply, computer instructions.Processors may be implemented as mechanical, electrical, magnetic,optical, chemical or quantum components, among others, alone or incombination.

Computer system 500 also includes a memory 504 coupled to bus 510. Thememory 504, such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamicstorage device, stores information including processor instructions fordetermining appropriate times for an online service 103 or an onlineservice tracking platform 102 to send instant messages. Dynamic memoryallows information stored therein to be changed by the computer system500. RAM allows a unit of information stored at a location called amemory address to be stored and retrieved independently of informationat neighboring addresses. The memory 504 is also used by the processor502 to store temporary values during execution of processorinstructions. The computer system 500 also includes a read only memory(ROM) 506 or other static storage device coupled to the bus 510 forstoring static information, including instructions, that is not changedby the computer system 500. Some memory is composed of volatile storagethat loses the information stored thereon when power is lost. Alsocoupled to bus 510 is a non-volatile (persistent) storage device 508,such as a magnetic disk, optical disk or flash card, for storinginformation, including instructions, that persists even when thecomputer system 500 is turned off or otherwise loses power.

Information, including instructions for determining appropriate timesfor an online service 103 or online service tracking platform 102 tosend instant messages, is provided to the bus 510 for use by theprocessor from an optional external input device 512, such as a keyboardcontaining alphanumeric keys operated by a human user, or a sensor. Asensor detects conditions in its vicinity and transforms thosedetections into physical expression compatible with the measurablephenomenon used to represent information in computer system 500. Otheroptional external devices coupled to bus 510, used primarily forinteracting with humans, may include a display device 514, such as acathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD), or plasmascreen or printer for presenting text or images, and a pointing device516, such as a mouse or a trackball or cursor direction keys, or motionsensor, for controlling a position of a small cursor image presented onthe display 514 and issuing commands associated with graphical elementspresented on the display 514. In some embodiments, for example, inembodiments in which the computer system 500 performs all functionsautomatically without human input, one or more of external input device512, display device 514 and pointing device 516 is omitted.

In the illustrated embodiment, special purpose hardware, such as anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 520, is coupled to bus510. The special purpose hardware is configured to perform operationsnot performed by processor 502 quickly enough for special purposes.Examples of application specific ICs include graphics accelerator cardsfor generating images for display 514, cryptographic boards forencrypting and decrypting messages sent over a network, speechrecognition, and interfaces to special external devices, such as roboticarms and medical scanning equipment that repeatedly perform some complexsequence of operations that are more efficiently implemented inhardware.

Computer system 500 also includes one or more instances of acommunications interface 570 coupled to bus 510. Communication interface570 provides a one-way or two-way communication coupling to a variety ofexternal devices that operate with their own processors, such asprinters, scanners and external disks. In general the coupling is with anetwork link 578 that is connected to a local network 580 to which avariety of external devices with their own processors are connected. Forexample, communication interface 570 may be a parallel port or a serialport or a universal serial bus (USB) port on a personal computer. Insome embodiments, communications interface 570 is an integrated servicesdigital network (ISDN) card or a digital subscriber line (DSL) card or atelephone modem that provides an information communication connection toa corresponding type of telephone line. In some embodiments, acommunication interface 570 is a cable modem that converts signals onbus 510 into signals for a communication connection over a coaxial cableor into optical signals for a communication connection over a fiberoptic cable. As another example, communications interface 570 may be alocal area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connectionto a compatible LAN, such as Ethernet. Wireless links may also beimplemented. For wireless links, the communications interface 570 sendsor receives or both sends and receives electrical, acoustic orelectromagnetic signals, including infrared and optical signals, thatcarry information streams, such as digital data. For example, inwireless handheld devices, such as mobile telephones like cell phones,the communications interface 570 includes a radio band electromagnetictransmitter and receiver called a radio transceiver. In certainembodiments, the communications interface 570 enables connection to thecommunication network 105 for an online service 103 or online servicetracking platform 102 to send instant messages to the UE 101.

The term computer-readable medium is used herein to refer to any mediumthat participates in providing information to processor 502, includinginstructions for execution. Such a medium may take many forms,including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media andtransmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical ormagnetic disks, such as storage device 508. Volatile media include, forexample, dynamic memory 504. Transmission media include, for example,coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optic cables, and carrier waves thattravel through space without wires or cables, such as acoustic waves andelectromagnetic waves, including radio, optical and infrared waves.Signals include man-made transient variations in amplitude, frequency,phase, polarization or other physical properties transmitted through thetransmission media. Common forms of computer-readable media include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any other optical medium,punch cards, paper tape, optical mark sheets, any other physical mediumwith patterns of holes or other optically recognizable indicia, a RAM, aPROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, acarrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read. Theterm computer-readable storage medium is used herein to refer to anycomputer-readable medium except transmission media.

Logic encoded in one or more tangible media includes one or both ofprocessor instructions on a computer-readable storage media and specialpurpose hardware, such as ASIC 520.

Network link 578 typically provides information communication usingtransmission media through one or more networks to other devices thatuse or process the information. For example, network link 578 mayprovide a connection through local network 580 to a host computer 582 orto equipment 584 operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). ISPequipment 584 in turn provides data communication services through thepublic, world-wide packet-switching communication network of networksnow commonly referred to as the Internet 590.

A computer called a server host 592 connected to the Internet hosts aprocess that provides a service in response to information received overthe Internet. For example, server host 592 hosts a process that providesinformation representing video data for presentation at display 514. Itis contemplated that the components of system 500 can be deployed invarious configurations within other computer systems, e.g., host 582 andserver 592. As such, the server 592 can be used to implement theprocesses of certain embodiments.

At least some embodiments of the invention are related to the use ofcomputer system 500 for implementing some or all of the techniquesdescribed herein. According to one embodiment of the invention, thosetechniques are performed by computer system 500 in response to processor502 executing one or more sequences of one or more processorinstructions contained in memory 504. Such instructions, also calledcomputer instructions, software and program code, may be read intomemory 504 from another computer-readable medium such as storage device508 or network link 578. Execution of the sequences of instructionscontained in memory 504 causes processor 502 to perform one or more ofthe method steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hardware,such as ASIC 520, may be used in place of or in combination withsoftware to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the inventionare not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software,unless otherwise explicitly stated herein.

The signals transmitted over network link 578 and other networks throughcommunications interface 570, carry information to and from computersystem 500. Computer system 500 can send and receive information,including program code, through the networks 580, 590 among others,through network link 578 and communications interface 570. In an exampleusing the Internet 590, a server host 592 transmits program code for aparticular application, requested by a message sent from computer 500,through Internet 590, ISP equipment 584, local network 580 andcommunications interface 570. The received code may be executed byprocessor 502 as it is received, or may be stored in memory 504 or instorage device 508 or other non-volatile storage for later execution, orboth. In this manner, computer system 500 may obtain application programcode in the form of signals on a carrier wave.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequence of instructions or data or both to processor 502 forexecution. For example, instructions and data may initially be carriedon a magnetic disk of a remote computer such as host 582. The remotecomputer loads the instructions and data into its dynamic memory andsends the instructions and data over a telephone line using a modem. Amodem local to the computer system 500 receives the instructions anddata on a telephone line and uses an infra-red transmitter to convertthe instructions and data to a signal on an infra-red carrier waveserving as the network link 578. An infrared detector serving ascommunications interface 570 receives the instructions and data carriedin the infrared signal and places information representing theinstructions and data onto bus 510. Bus 510 carries the information tomemory 504 from which processor 502 retrieves and executes theinstructions using some of the data sent with the instructions. Theinstructions and data received in memory 504 may optionally be stored onstorage device 508, either before or after execution by the processor502.

FIG. 6 illustrates a chip set 600 upon which an embodiment of theinvention may be implemented. Chip set 600 is programmed to determineappropriate times for an online service 103 or online service trackingplatform 102 to send instant messages as described herein and includes,for instance, the processor and memory components described with respectto FIG. 5 incorporated in one or more physical packages (e.g., chips).By way of example, a physical package includes an arrangement of one ormore materials, components, and/or wires on a structural assembly (e.g.,a baseboard) to provide one or more characteristics such as physicalstrength, conservation of size, and/or limitation of electricalinteraction. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments the chip setcan be implemented in a single chip. Chip set 600, or a portion thereof,constitutes a means for performing one or more steps of determiningappropriate times for an online service 103 or online service trackingplatform 102 to send instant messages.

In one embodiment, the chip set 600 includes a communication mechanismsuch as a bus 601 for passing information among the components of thechip set 600. A processor 603 has connectivity to the bus 601 to executeinstructions and process information stored in, for example, a memory605. The processor 603 may include one or more processing cores witheach core configured to perform independently. A multi-core processorenables multiprocessing within a single physical package. Examples of amulti-core processor include two, four, eight, or greater numbers ofprocessing cores. Alternatively or in addition, the processor 603 mayinclude one or more microprocessors configured in tandem via the bus 601to enable independent execution of instructions, pipelining, andmultithreading. The processor 603 may also be accompanied with one ormore specialized components to perform certain processing functions andtasks such as one or more digital signal processors (DSP) 607, or one ormore application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) 609. A DSP 607typically is configured to process real-world signals (e.g., sound) inreal time independently of the processor 603. Similarly, an ASIC 609 canbe configured to performed specialized functions not easily performed bya general purposed processor. Other specialized components to aid inperforming the inventive functions described herein include one or morefield programmable gate arrays (FPGA) (not shown), one or morecontrollers (not shown), or one or more other special-purpose computerchips.

The processor 603 and accompanying components have connectivity to thememory 605 via the bus 601. The memory 605 includes both dynamic memory(e.g., RAM, magnetic disk, writable optical disk, etc.) and staticmemory (e.g., ROM, CD-ROM, etc.) for storing executable instructionsthat when executed perform the inventive steps described herein todetermine appropriate times for an online service 103 or an onlineservice tracking platform 102 to send instant messages. The memory 605also stores the data associated with or generated by the execution ofthe inventive steps.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of exemplary components of a mobile terminal (e.g.,handset) for communications, which is capable of operating in the systemof FIG. 1, according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, mobileterminal 700, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performingone or more steps of utilizing an online service 103 and receivinginstant messages from the online service 103 or online service trackingplatform 102 at appropriate times. Generally, a radio receiver is oftendefined in terms of front-end and back-end characteristics. Thefront-end of the receiver encompasses all of the Radio Frequency (RF)circuitry whereas the back-end encompasses all of the base-bandprocessing circuitry. As used in this application, the term “circuitry”refers to both: (1) hardware-only implementations (such asimplementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry), and (2) tocombinations of circuitry and software (and/or firmware) (such as to acombination of processor(s), including digital signal processor(s),software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, suchas a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions). Thisdefinition of “circuitry” applies to all uses of this term in thisapplication, including in any claims. As a further example, as used inthis application, the term “circuitry” would also cover animplementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) and its(or their) accompanying software/or firmware. The term “circuitry” wouldalso cover, for example, a baseband integrated circuit or applicationsprocessor integrated circuit in a mobile phone or a similar integratedcircuit in a cellular network device or other network devices.

Pertinent internal components of the telephone include a Main ControlUnit (MCU) 703, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) 705, and areceiver/transmitter unit including a microphone gain control unit and aspeaker gain control unit. A main display unit 707 provides a display tothe user in support of various applications and mobile terminalfunctions that perform or support the steps of displaying messagesreceived from the online service 103 or the online service trackingplatform 102 at appropriate times. The display unit 707 includes displaycircuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interfaceof the mobile terminal (e.g., mobile telephone). Additionally, thedisplay unit 707 and display circuitry are configured to facilitate usercontrol of at least some functions of the mobile terminal. An audiofunction circuitry 709 includes a microphone 711 and microphoneamplifier that amplifies the speech signal output from the microphone711. The amplified speech signal output from the microphone 711 is fedto a coder/decoder (CODEC) 713.

A radio section 715 amplifies power and converts frequency in order tocommunicate with a base station, which is included in a mobilecommunication system, via antenna 717. The power amplifier (PA) 719 andthe transmitter/modulation circuitry are operationally responsive to theMCU 703, with an output from the PA 719 coupled to the duplexer 721 orcirculator or antenna switch, as known in the art. The PA 719 alsocouples to a battery interface and power control unit 720.

In use, a user of mobile terminal 701 speaks into the microphone 711 andhis or her voice along with any detected background noise is convertedinto an analog voltage. The analog voltage is then converted into adigital signal through the Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) 723. Thecontrol unit 703 routes the digital signal into the DSP 705 forprocessing therein, such as speech encoding, channel encoding,encrypting, and interleaving. In one embodiment, the processed voicesignals are encoded, by units not separately shown, using a cellulartransmission protocol such as global evolution (EDGE), general packetradio service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications (GSM),Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS), universal mobiletelecommunications system (UMTS), etc., as well as any other suitablewireless medium, e.g., microwave access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution(LTE) networks, code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband codedivision multiple access (WCDMA), wireless fidelity (WiFi), satellite,and the like.

The encoded signals are then routed to an equalizer 725 for compensationof any frequency-dependent impairments that occur during transmissionthough the air such as phase and amplitude distortion. After equalizingthe bit stream, the modulator 727 combines the signal with a RF signalgenerated in the RF interface 729. The modulator 727 generates a sinewave by way of frequency or phase modulation. In order to prepare thesignal for transmission, an up-converter 731 combines the sine waveoutput from the modulator 727 with another sine wave generated by asynthesizer 733 to achieve the desired frequency of transmission. Thesignal is then sent through a PA 719 to increase the signal to anappropriate power level. In practical systems, the PA 719 acts as avariable gain amplifier whose gain is controlled by the DSP 705 frominformation received from a network base station. The signal is thenfiltered within the duplexer 721 and optionally sent to an antennacoupler 735 to match impedances to provide maximum power transfer.Finally, the signal is transmitted via antenna 717 to a local basestation. An automatic gain control (AGC) can be supplied to control thegain of the final stages of the receiver. The signals may be forwardedfrom there to a remote telephone which may be another cellulartelephone, other mobile phone or a land-line connected to a PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN), or other telephony networks.

Voice signals transmitted to the mobile terminal 701 are received viaantenna 717 and immediately amplified by a low noise amplifier (LNA)737. A down-converter 739 lowers the carrier frequency while thedemodulator 741 strips away the RF leaving only a digital bit stream.The signal then goes through the equalizer 725 and is processed by theDSP 705. A Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) 743 converts the signal andthe resulting output is transmitted to the user through the speaker 745,all under control of a Main Control Unit (MCU) 703—which can beimplemented as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) (not shown).

The MCU 703 receives various signals including input signals from thekeyboard 747. The keyboard 747 and/or the MCU 703 in combination withother user input components (e.g., the microphone 711) comprise a userinterface circuitry for managing user input. The MCU 703 runs a userinterface software to facilitate user control of at least some functionsof the mobile terminal 701 to use an online service 103 and receiveinstant messages from an online service 103 or online service trackingplatform 102. The MCU 703 also delivers a display command and a switchcommand to the display 707 and to the speech output switchingcontroller, respectively. Further, the MCU 703 exchanges informationwith the DSP 705 and can access an optionally incorporated SIM card 749and a memory 751. In addition, the MCU 703 executes various controlfunctions required of the terminal. The DSP 705 may, depending upon theimplementation, perform any of a variety of conventional digitalprocessing functions on the voice signals. Additionally, DSP 705determines the background noise level of the local environment from thesignals detected by microphone 711 and sets the gain of microphone 711to a level selected to compensate for the natural tendency of the userof the mobile terminal 701.

The CODEC 713 includes the ADC 723 and DAC 743. The memory 751 storesvarious data including call incoming tone data and is capable of storingother data including music data received via, e.g., the global Internet.The software module could reside in RAM memory, flash memory, registers,or any other form of writable storage medium known in the art. Thememory device 751 may be, but not limited to, a single memory, CD, DVD,ROM, RAM, EEPROM, optical storage, or any other non-volatile storagemedium capable of storing digital data.

An optionally incorporated SIM card 749 carries, for instance, importantinformation, such as the cellular phone number, the carrier supplyingservice, subscription details, and security information. The SIM card749 serves primarily to identify the mobile terminal 701 on a radionetwork. The card 749 also contains a memory for storing a personaltelephone number registry, text messages, and user specific mobileterminal settings.

While the invention has been described in connection with a number ofembodiments and implementations, the invention is not so limited butcovers various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements, whichfall within the purview of the appended claims. Although features of theinvention are expressed in certain combinations among the claims, it iscontemplated that these features can be arranged in any combination andorder.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: retrieving timinginformation relating to usage by a user of one or more online services;determining a pattern of consistent usage from the timing information;and generating scheduling information for transmission of a messagebased on the determined pattern.